Dirt Cups

Once in a while I make an attempt at being "SuperMom".  This was one of the noble attempts, and honestly, it worked!  The kids, especially the little ones, were highly impressed.  For some reason the older ones are much more difficult to impress.  Or at least getting them to admit they're impressed.  I think my baby was the most impressed.  Mom actually let him eat worms and dirt!  That's not something that happens everyday.

6 (9 ounce) clear plastic cups
4 cups chocolate pudding (I double the recipe for Hasty Chocolate Pudding to use)
18 chocolate sandwhich cookies (like Oreo), crushed
12 candy gummy worms

Divide the chocolate pudding between the cups - about 3/4 cup pudding in each cup.  Divide the cookie crumbs between the cups, then top with 2 candy gummy worms.

* You could layer the pudding and cookie crumbs as well.

Linked on Manic Monday, The Busy Bee's and Whisk Away Wednesday.

Where are Grandpa's Dentures?

Have you ever seen Meet the Robinson's?  You know the part where the grandpa is searching for his teeth?  For some reason, these "Grandpa's Dentures" remind me of that part of the movie.

If your kids, grandkids, or even you, are like my kiddos, this is the perfect snack for you!  When I buy snacks for my kids, I buy the stuff I would have loved as a kid.  But for some reason, my kids are still just as bored with their snacks as I was with mine.  They definitely weren't bored eating Grandpa's Dentures!  They all loved them, and they weren't too hard to make.  Bonus!  They were even tasty.  Double bonus!

1 red apple, cut in half and cored, then sliced
peanut butter
miniature marshmallows

Take each apple slice and pat dry with a paper towel.  Spread one side of each apple with peanut butter.  Place marshmallows along the outer edge (by the peel) of half of the apple slices.  Top with another apple slice with the peanut butter side down on the marshmallows.

Enjoy!

Linked on Tatertots and Jello.

Koolaid Play Dough

I've been a mom for almost 14 years.  There are a few things I've learned over the years.  Things like

Characters on shoes and shirts are really okay.  I refused to buy my kids anything with a famous character on it.  I didn't like the way it looked.  I thought it was kind of trashy looking (please, don't judge me :)).  Until this year.  I was shoe shopping for my kids when my sweet little 2 year old found Cars shoes.  He LOVES Cars.  He carries his little Mater truck around with him everywhere he goes and always picks Cars when he gets to watch a movie.  Needless to say, it was love at first sight for the little guy.  He sat down and tried to put the Cars shoes on all by himself.  I guess I'm getting soft in my old age, because I bought him the shoes.  And Dora shoes for my 4 year old.  If only I would have know how much joy the characters on their little shoes could bring them, I'm sure I would have bought the other 3 character shoes as well.  My little 2 year old get excited every single day when I put his shoes on him.

The house doesn't have to be spotless.  It took me 3 kids and a sign at the neighbors house to realize this one.  What did the sign say?  "The house might be a mess, but the kids and I had fun today."  I still like the house to be clean, but a clean house isn't what my kids are going to remember when they get older.  The things that they'll remember are the things that we did together, or at least that we did things together.

If it's important to them, it's important to me.  After all, they are important to me.  Whether they want to show me something cool they found outside (that more than likely isn't allowed inside), tell me something, or do something with me, they are more important that anything else I'm doing.  They don't always want my attention when it's convenient, but they are what's important.  I feel like this one has helped me to have an amazing relationship with all 5 of my kids.  My teenager still wants to hang out with Mom, gives me hugs, kisses, and even tells me he loves me.  In front of his friends.  And he comes to me with any questions or problems he has.  And he has a LOT of questions.  It's amazing (and not always in a good way) the things he is told at school.  He asks me what a word means, if something is true, etc.  I think it's a good thing I'm not shy!

Dessert for dinner is okay.  Once in a while.  It's a memory maker.

Chores are a good thing for kids.  It teaches them how to work.  They might not do the job as well as I would like, but as long as they give it their best effort, that's good enough.

It's okay to let the kids help.  From cooking, to cleaning, to getting the mail, kids love to help.  It might take me twice as long (or longer!) to do something, it might make twice the mess (or more!), but they are the best little helpers I could ask for.  And they are definitely worth taking a little extra time doing something so I can spend time with them.  Besides, if I don't let them help me now, they aren't going to want to help me when they get older.  

Cherish every little gift.  If my kids draw me a picture, give a a prize they got at school, the last bite of a treat they saved, or a treasure they found while playing out side, I love every gift they give me.  They give me things because they love me.  They make things for me because they love me.  It might not look like anything significant, but they love me and thought of me, not someone else, but me.  My 6 year old loves to draw me picture and write a little note on the picture.  It usually says something like "I love you Mom.  We are love."  I love that they want to make me things and give me their little treasures.  I.  Love.  Them!

I know Koolaid Play Dough isn't edible, but it sure is fun for the kiddos and the best recipe I've tried.  It's smooth.  It's non-toxic.  It smells yummy.  And it keeps the kids busy for a long time.  Like an entire 45 minutes at a time.  And without any fighting.  Now that's priceless!

 

Putting the Play Dough in....

Pushing the Play Dough out....

Lots of giggles....

And showing what she did with her Play Dough.

They all had fun!  Even my 11 year old played with them for a while.  Until she had to do her chores.

1 cup flour 
1/2 cup salt 
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 package unsweetened Koolaid 
1 cup water

In a small pan combine dry ingredients.  Add oil and water and mix well.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture forms a ball.  Pour dough onto the and knead until smooth (wait until it cools a little first!). Store in airtight container.

Recipe from my daughters preschool.

Linked on Sweet Bella Roos and Tatertots and Jello.

April Fools Punch

I know it's too late for this year, but I had to share my fun trick I played on my kids.  I am not a huge April Fools person, but I usually try to come up with one harmless prank for my kids.  And it's usually food related.  This year I decided to make them some special April Fools Punch.  It was a hit!  The kids had no clue until the first one tried to take a nice drink.  

"Mom, my straw doesn't work!"

The next one tried to adjust her straw.

"Hey!  My punch broke?!?!"

She pulled out her straw, examined it, smelled it, and then finally licked it.

"Hey!  It's Jell-O!"

The kids loved my little prank and I loved watching the expressions on their little faces while they were figuring it out.  Priceless!

1 (6 oz) package gelatin
6 (8 ounce) clear cups
6 straws

Make gelatin according to package directions.  Pour equal amounts into each of the cups and place a straw in each cup.  Refrigerate until firm.

Linked on Sweets for a Saturday.

Hotdog Squids

I've made squids out of hotdogs before, but never like these Hot Dog Squids. They were so fun for the kids!  My 12 year old and his friend even thought they were pretty cool.  It isn't too often that my kids fight over food that doesn't have sugar as the main ingredient.  Now if I could just get them to fight over broccoli......

1 package hotdogs, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 package spaghetti

Insert spaghetti noodles into one end of each hotdog piece and push through (I did 4 pieces so each would have a total of 8 "legs", just like an octopus)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and place "squids" in boiling water and cook until noodles are tender.

Recipe idea seen on Pinterest.

Fun with the Kids - A Surprise Picnic!

My kids (especially the littler ones) LOVE picnics! It was almost time for my 5 year old to get home from kindergarten, which also meant it was almost lunch time. I don't know about you, but I am terrible at planning out the meals around here. I usually remember I need to fix a meal when I am hungry and already ready to eat. Yesterday was no different. As I opened the fridge I saw the beautiful bags of deli sliced meats and cheese, a light bulb went on. Not that I get those "light bulb" moments often, because I don't. But when I do, I usually have to go along for ride and see where it takes me.

When I was a kid, we had Lunchables. Not just the kind they have now, but really yummy ones as well. At least......from what I can remember. They had real cheese in them, not the processed stuff shaped like a square. And the meat looked like meat, not bologna (which, by the way, I claim is NOT meat!). Oh, and the crackers! They had flavor! And they even had a tasty sauce to put on the little cracker sandwiches. They were even nice enough to tuck in a little Andes mint. Oh how I loved those things! When I would get money, I would buy those Lunchables. Not toys or candy or anything else, but Lunchables.

Looking at the beautifully sliced deli meat (Thanks Maceys! You did a wonderful job. And the kids are still playing with their lovely balloons you so kindly gave them. They have fallen, but are not forgotten or unloved. :)), I decided to make some homemade Lunchables for my little ones. As a got out the meats, cheese, and crackers, I thought a picnic would be lovely. A SURPRISE picnic for my 5 year old! Not the kind where you actually go outside - it's really REALLY cold out there right now - but one in the comfort of my very own front room. Normally food is banned from anywhere in the house except the kitchen or dinning room, but I figured I could put a blanket down and it would save me a mess on the carpet. Besides, a real picnic uses a blanket.

My sweet little 3 year old got so excited to help set up the picnic. She insisted on carrying the food to the blanket and setting it up for us. We had just finished getting everything ready when my 5 year old got home. She was so excited about her lunch!

My little princesses at their picnic!

Our meat and cheese plate and the cracker and olive plate.  No picnic is complete without olives for "monster fingers"!

Our drinks and peeled baby oranges.  We love the Cutie brand.  They don't have seeds in them and my 3 year old can peel them herself!

My 3 year old's creation

YUM!!  (My 5 year old said it looked like she had fangs with the meat hanging out of the sides of her mouth.  She looks very lady like, I know....)

My 5 year old's creation.

Yummy!

Another one of her creations.  She loved it and had me try it.  Did I love it?  Not so much.

All the homemade lucnhables are is sliced meat and cheese (I use the deli sliced and cut them into quarters) and crackers (we like the buttery crackers like Ritz, Club and Townhouse).  Easy as can be and a whole lotta fun!

Potato Dogs

My kids love Potato Dogs! They are quick and easy and a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. I sometimes will intentionally make extra mashed potatoes, just for these Potato Dogs.

10 hotdogs
2 cups mashed potatoes
1 cup cheese, shredded

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add hotdogs. Cook 5 minutes, or until heated through. Cut hotdogs lengthwise, cutting almost all the way through, but not quite. I cut mine until they would stay open, but were still attached at the bottom. Place hotdogs on a baking sheet. Spoon or pipe mashed potatoes onto the hotdogs (if they are leftover potatoes, heat them first), then sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Fantastic Tuna Salad

Growing up, my mom would make us tuna fish sandwiches for lunch. She made them with just a little Miracle Whip......they were quite dry..... Needless to say, I was not a fan of tuna growing up, and I still can't stand Miracle Whip. I think the reason that the revolting stuff is called "Miracle" Whip, is because it is a miracle anyone likes it. Just my own personal opinion. When I married my sweet husband, for some strange reason, he liked that nasty stuff. *Shudder* I can proudly say that I have never purchased any and my hubby is still alive and thriving without it.

Anyway, I got to the point that I would rather starve than eat a tuna sandwich. Then one day it happened. I ate one. You see, my mom didn't make it. A friends mom did. I decided to be a good guest and eat the smelly thing. Well, as luck would have it, it was rather delicious! It wasn't dry, didn't have ANY Miracle Whip in it, and I didn't even have to gag it down. That's when I realized (I was in the 7th grade) that tuna was not all bad, just Mom's (sorry Mom, I still love you and will be down to visit next week - if you will still let me....). I decided to take what I could from that sandwich and make my own. To this day I still love a good tuna salad sandwich, or just plain old tuna salad (very tasty with buttery crackers).

2 (5 oz) cans tuna (I prefer Albacore in water)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon mustard
2 tablespoons sweet relish
1/4 cup celery, chopped small
1 tablespoon onion, finely chopped

Put the tuna in a bowl and break up with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

This is what we made with the tuna salad.

It's a fish!! I found the idea in my Family Fun magazine this month. To make it, all you need is a heart cookie cutter and a circle cookie cutter. Stack 2 pieces of bread and place them on the counter. Cut out a circle with the round cookie cutter (If you have wide bread, you will only need 2 pieces of bread. Make the round cut on one side. If you have regular bread, you will need 4 pieces. Make the cut in the center). Next, use the heart cookie cutter to cut out a heart (if you are using the wide bread, cut the heart on the opposite side of the bread as the circle with the pointed bottom of the heart pointing towards the circle. You will want the point to be inside the circle so that when you cut, the tip is off. If you are using regular bread, cut out the heart and then cut the bottom of the heart off with the round cookie cutter). Spread one piece of each shape with the tuna salad (or any filling you would like) and top with the other identical shape. Put the fish together by putting the cut off part of the heart against the circle. So fun, so cute!